Sheet conveyor apparatus for automatic copying machine

ABSTRACT

Sheet conveyor apparatus for conveying cut sheets through an automatic copying machine. Gripper devices grip the leading edge of sheet material supplied at a sheet feed-in station and drive apparatus move said gripper devices through a predetermined path including an image transfer station at which a developed image is transferred onto said sheet material and an image fusing station at which said image is permanently affixed to said sheet material while said sheet material is maintained in a substantially planar position. Camming devices release the gripper devices from the sheet material at a sheet feed-out station and sheet feed-out apparatus positioned at the sheet feed-out station and operatively connected to said drive apparatus receive the movement of said sheet material along the predetermined path. A control circuit emits electrical signals for controlling the operation of said gripper devices and sheet feed-out apparatus to enable sheet material to be continuously conveyed through the aforementioned stations.

nited States Patent [72] inventors Edward H. Burnham;

Edward J. Lavander, Rochester, NY. [21 Appl. No. 824,543 I22] Filed May[4, I969 [45] Patented May ll, [97! H3] Assignce Xerox CorporationRochester, NY.

[54] SHEET CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC COPYING MACHINE 6 Claims, 54Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 271/69 [51 Int. Cl r B65h 29/68 [50] Field of Search27l/3,6. 63, 69, 76, 79, 82; l0l/l74, 183, 232, 267, 279

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,095,194 6/1963 Taillie271/79 Primary Examiner- Edward A. Sroka Attorneys-Paul M. Enlow. NormanE. Schrader, James J.

Ralabate. Ronald Zibelli and Melvin A. Klein ABSTRACT: Sheet conveyorapparatus for conveying cut sheets through an automatic copying machine.Gripper devices grip the leading edge of sheet material supplied at asheet feed-in station and drive apparatus move said gripper devicesthrough a predetermined path including an image transfer station atwhich a developed image is transferred onto said sheet material and animage fusing station at which said image is permanently affixed to saidsheet material while said sheet material is maintained in asubstantially planar position. Carnming devices release the gripperdevices from the sheet material at a sheet feed-out station and sheetfeed-out apparatus positioned at the sheet feed-out station andoperatively connected to said drive apparatus receive the movement ofsaid sheet material along the predetermined path. A control circuitemits electrical signals for controlling the operation of said gripperdevices and sheet feed-out apparatus to enable sheet material to becontinuously conveyed through the aforementioned stations.

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l r 662 1Q? L546 555 are I Patented May 11, 1971 l 3,57

55 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDWARD H. BURNH AM BY EDWARD J. LAVANDER MAMATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1971 3,578,317

I 55 Sheets-Sheet 3 I //v,/ use use G O Sal 5 s| M PRINT SIZE [I m 6) \OS'TART gy g PRINT 57 ll k SIO SH 520 MAX. AUTO |5o eoo FIG. 4

Patented May 11, 1971 3,578,317

53 Sheets-Sheet 4 ."TOP CENTER DSIO 825 Patented May 11, 19 71 3,578,317

55 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 11, 1971 -3,578,317

55 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented May 11, 1971 3,578,317

35 Sheets-Sheet 12 3as-+ 37/ j LEW '35 A FIG. /7

Patented May 11, 1971 3,578,317

55 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented May 1 l, 1971 3,578,317

55 Sheets-Sheet 14 Patented IMay 11, 1971 55 Sheets-Sheet 15 mm d: All

Pate nted Ma 11, 1911 3,578,317

35 Sheets-Sheet l6 FIG. 27

Patented May 11, 1971 55 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 35 Sheets-Sheet 19

1. Sheet conveyor apparatus for conveying cut sheets through anautomatic copying machine comprising: gripper means for gripping theleading edge of sheet material supplied at a sheet feed-in station,drive means for moving said gripper means through a predetermined pathincluding an image transfer station at which a developed image istransferred onto said sheet material and an image fusing station atwhich said image is permanently affixed to said sheet material whilesaid sheet material is maintained in a substantially planar positioncamming means for releasing said gripper means from said sheet materialat a sheet feed-out station, sheet feed out means positioned at thesheet feed-out station and operatively connected to said drive means forreceiving said sheet material from said gripper means and continuing themovement of said sheet material along the predetermined path, said sheetfeed-out means being pivotally supported for movement to a firstposition away from said path where said gripper means can pass at apredetermined time to a second position where said sheet material isdrivingly engaged in response to electrical signals, and circuit meansto emit electrical signals for controlling the operation of said grippermeans and sheet feed-out means to enable sheet material to becontinuously conveyed through the aforementioned stations.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a clutchmechanism for stopping said gripper means at the feed-in station inresponse to electrical signals supplied by said circuit means. 3.Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said drive means includes amultiple speed electrical motor to advance the sheet material at leastdouble and quadruple travel rates.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3further including sheet lift means located adjacent to said imagetransfer station including a lever member arranged for pivotal movementand extending across the sheet path and actuator means operativelyconnected to said lever member to cause said lever member to be raisedabove the path of said gripper means after said gripper means are movedtherepast whereby said sheet material is caused to buckle upwardly toassure continuous control during image transfer.
 5. Apparatus accordingto claim 1 including vertical transport means for receiving sheetmaterial advanced by said sheet feed-out means and transporting saidsheet material into a horizontally disposed tray.
 6. Apparatus accordingto claim 5 including sheet guide means located intermediate said sheetfeed-out means and said vertical transport means and operative tomaintain said sheet material substantially planar whereby the leadingedge of said sheet material is controlled to prevent the sheet materialbeing wrinkled or folded as it is received onto said vertical transportmeans.